Towards a Freshwater Conservation-Based Sustainable Livelihood Initiative in the Indo–Gangetic Basin: A Conceptual Framework of Opportunities, Recognition and Challenges

Increased human-induced environmental degradation in the Ganga River poses significant threats to freshwater biodiversity and the livelihoods of river-dependent communities. Community-based livelihood initiatives are grounded in the ecological sustainability and interdependency of human well-being. By drawing on socio-ecological interventions, this study conceptualizes Jalaj, a freshwater conservation-based sustainable livelihood that emphasizes the integration of freshwater conservation and community participation, recognizing that resilient communities are essential for resilient ecosystems. This study investigates how the Jalaj initiative has contributed to the economic well-being and livelihood diversification of participating SHGs and explores how these changes are associated with community engagement and ecological conservation outcomes across the Ganga River basin. Four distinctive datasets, opportunities, and challenges were analyzed: (1) income levels of self-help groups pre- and post-Jalaj intervention across three consecutive years (2023–2024; 2024–2025; 2025–2026); (2) revenue generated through Jalaj models across all Jalaj centers in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal; (3) data on sensitization activities represented through maps; and their impact over the community analyzed through (4) records of aquatic species rescued by local communities. Together, these findings indicate that integrated interventions are effective in linking ecological protection with socio-economic parameters, highlighting the potential of community-based conservation frameworks to strengthen resilience, support sustainable livelihoods, and conserve aquatic systems. The findings also offer insights for replication, particularly in policy and practice across similar socio-ecological contexts.